Electrode structure



May 2o, 1947. F. LANDAUE'R 2,420,669

ELECTRODE STRUCTURE Filed March 15, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l 2 1;- 50 O O C30 o o() o o ojf O O (j: O 0 o {I} O O O (i) 0 O g5 "-3000530001220006) 00630006300@Q00 '000000 ooo@ ooo,

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` Wwf May 20, 1947. F. LANDAUER ELECTRODE STRUCTURE Filed March l5, 1944 -.'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 OOOOO Patented May 20, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELEoTnoDE STRUCTURE Fred Lanaauer, Rockville cent1-e, N. Y.

Application March 15, 1944, Serial N o. 526,608

This invention refers to improvements in therapeutic devices and more particularly to electrotherapeutic treatment plants.

The present application is a continuation-in part of my copending U. S. patent application Serial Number 3813,94() led February 27, 1941, now matured into U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,347,915, dated May 2, 1944.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide means for hydro-galvanic treatment of the human body and simultaneously guarding the latter against any undesirable effects and reactions.

It is another object of this invention to pro-v vide novel and eiicient electro-therapeutic means which may be employed for local treatment as well as for treatment of the entire human body and which may be applied to the body proper or may be removably and interchangeably arranged within the bath tub or in connection with an overhead shower.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a housing for holding a plurality of electrodes, which housing is adapted to permit fluid (liquid and/or steam) to ilow through the housing continuously, intermittently or to remain within the housing for any desired length of time.

It is still a further object 'oi this invention to provide electrode carrier means or a housing of such construction that it causes the fluid to be directed to and confined to the body part under treatment.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a housing provided with a plurality of sections, each containing an electrode, said sections being preferably hinged together or movably connected to each other so as to permit angular and/or arcuate positioning of said sections with respect to each other and in battery-like formation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide carrier means or a housing carrying an electrode and having a perforated wall therefor, said electrode and perforated wall being removably arranged on said carrier means, so as to permit the use of dilerent electrodes and walls with different perforations for obtaining various electric current eiects.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a housing including a perforated wall, said housing being adapted to be lled with a liquid and containing an electrode so disposed as to be substantially surrounded by said liquid, said perforated wall acting as liquid emitting 3 Claims. (Cl. 128%365) housing made of electrically non-conductive material and containing at least one electrode and a liquid within said housing which may be discharged through a perforated wall of the housing and at predetermined points thereof while said housing is being applied to the human body or parts thereof under treatment.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure thereof together with the attached drawings which illustrate certain forms of embodiments thereof. These forms are shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to thel precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings:

Fig, 1 is a bottom View (part of the surface being broken away) of a therapeutic device made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 1a is a cross-sectional view of a therapeutic device in a modied form.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the device taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end view of a therapeutic device in further modified form.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the device taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top View of the housing forming part of the therapeutic device equipped with attaching means and made according to this invention.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a plurality of therapeutic devices arranged in battery-like formation.

Fig. '7 is an elevational View of a perforated cover for use on the housing of the therapeutic device of Fig. 5 or Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the therapeutic devices of Fig. 9 arranged inlarcuate form and shown somewhat modified.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view of the therapeutic device made in accordance with this invention and equipped with attaching means.

Fig. l0 is 'a cross-sectional view through one unit of the therapeutic devices of Fig. 6 taken along line llllll Fig. l1 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of several therapeutic devices made in accordance with this invention within a bath tub 01 on a frame structure.

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 disclose one form of a therapeutical device made in accordance with this invention. The device comprises a hollow housing 28 in which an electrode 2| is arranged. ,The housing or vessel 20 is preferably `made of flexible rubber or resinous material. The electrode 2l may be made from wire mesh 22 which is connected with a conductor 23, the latter being in turn connected to an elec* tric power source (not shown). Housing 20 has a hollow space dened by wall 24 on which is p1aced cover 25 held in spaced relation from the bottom wall 25 of housing 29 by means of studs 21. Cover 25 may be either solid or perforated, whereas bottom 26 is provided with perforations 29, so that a fluid, such as liquid or steam, may ow through the perforations 29 of bottom plate 25. If cover k25 is perforated, then the openings of said cover and perforations 2d of bottom '25 are vpreferably not disposed in alignment with one another, so as to permit the liquid, when contained in or flowing through the interior of housing 2?, to take a more or less obstructed path through the housing 213. It will be readily apparent that a liquid rflowing through .housing 2l! (for example, if the same is placed 'underneath an overhead shower or nozzle) will be charged with electricity through electrode 2i and then the elec* trical charge will be transferred to the body part of a patient (not shown) when the same is standing on or is otherwise in contact with another electrode of opposite polarity (not shown, .and preferably placed in the oath tub). If the housing 2D is made of flexible and resilient material, `such .as rubber, sponge rubber, or resinous material which is an electrically non-conductive material, housing 2i! may be easily adapted to conform to the contour of a patients body part to be treated which is guarded against direct contact with electrode 2 I.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, housing Zil together vwith electrode 2l may be exed to a position approximately indicated in dot-dash line.

If cover 25 is made from solid material, housing 2B may be lled with water and bottom plate 25 may then be applied against a patients body part to be treated, thus forming a therapeutic device With self-contained electrode in contact with the water supplied to the housing.

It is well understood that instead of one electrode, two electrodes may be contained in housing 2D and may be connected with a supply source of electric current providing opposite polarities at said electrodes, respectively.

Fig. la shows a curved or arcuate housing 2da enclosing therein an electrode 2 la., which may be either solid and made of graphite or may be made of liexible electric current conducting material, such as a wire mesh providing passageways therethrough. Electrode Zia is connected by' means of a cable 23a to a power source (not shown) and is covered and in contact with a sponge rubber or cotton layer 25a which permits permeation thereof by a liquid and which allows the passage of liquid therethrough.

A further advantage of such layer is that it easily adapts itself to the particular body part, such as shoulders, arms, etc., to which it may be applied.

Layer 25a may ll out nearly the entire housing 26a, but may be displaced and| compressed to a location indicated at 25h (Fig. 1a).

Housing 29a, may be provided with perforations 22a affording passageways through the housing. Layer 2te may be removably aflixed to the housing in any appropriate manner and may extend the entire length of and be in contact with electrode 2id. Such cotton or like liquid absorbent layer may be, of course, arranged that no portion of the electrode can come in contact with the human body. If the layer 25a is wettened by the liquid, electric current ilow from the electrode through the layer to the body part will be had.

lt ,is well understood that such layer which provides a contact surface with many capillary openings may be employed as a wall or cover for any shaped housings containing an electrode or electrodes. In such structures the electrode contained in the housing must not necessarily be spaced from the layer of liquid absorbent material, the latter being compressible until a contact between the outer surface of the layer and the body part to which it is applied and Contact between the electrode and the inner surface of the layer is brought about. The aforesaid structures may be used under the showerhead as well as for local treatment of a body part.

It is of course understood that another wall of the housing and. if so desired, the electrode may have perorations to permit passage of a liquid iiow through the electrode housing. In some cases, however, it has been found that the liquid may be stored within a closed housing containing the electrode and covered by the liquid absorbent layer from which the electrically charged liquid may be dispensed from the interior of the housing in any desired manner.

Eigs. 3 and 4 show a therapeutic device in form of a vessel or housing similar to that of Figs. l and 2. The end walls 3l of housing 30 are slotted as indicated at 32 to facilitate adjustability of .cover "i3 relatively to the bottom plate 36 of housing 3i). Cover 33 carries an electrode (not shown) similar to electrode 2i of Fig. 2. Wing screws 35 on screw bolts 34 of cover 33 engage the end walls 3l of housing 30 thereby adapted to hold cover 33 in adjusted position within housing Sli. Since the end walls 3l are slotted, liquid may flow through slots 32 into the interior of the housing and will then pass through perforations 3l of bottom plate 36.

Itis well apparent that by moving cover 33 the distance between the perforated bottom 36 and the electrode carried by cover 33 may be varied.

Fig. 5 shows a rectangular housing 50 made from electrically non-conductive material and provided with a projecting, U-shaped rim 5l extending along the outer periphery of housing 50. Rim 5l also forms a frame for a perforated cover plate 52 to be slidably received within groove 53 of rim or frame 5l. Cover plate 52 has a plurality of perforations 54 arranged in any desired configuration. Attached to housing 5i] and at any desired location thereof is a guarding means in form of a flexible strip 55, preferably of rubber material, terminating into a suction cup 55 which may facilitate the attachment of electrode housing to the wall of a bath tub and like vessel.

A further rubber strip or band 51 which may be loosely connected to housing 59 and may slide along the outer wall 58 of frame 5l carries a suction cup 55a in order to facilitate further adjustment or positioning of housing 50 on a wall of a bath tub.

Housing 50 preferably contains an electrode made from graphite (not shown) which is positioned opposite cover 52 within housing 50, as will be explained hereinafter. Instead of cover 52 with predetermined perforations 54, a cover plate 60 having larger and more numerous perforations 6| (Fig. 7) may be attached to frame 5| of housing 50 to obtain various electric current effects for the electrically charged liquid flow through said cover perforations. It is also possible to replace cover plate 52 or 60 by a layer or pad of absorbent material, such as disclosed with respect to Fig. 1a.

Fig. 6 shows a plurality of housing sections 10, 1|, and 12 movably connected by hinges 13, 14 and arranged in battery-like formation. As can be seen from Figs. 6 and 8, housing sections 10, 1|, and 12 are U-shaped in cross-section and provided vvith holders or guides 15 to slidably receive therein electrode plates 15 which may be made from graphite. Each of the cove-r `plates, 11 may have the same or dissimilar perforations 18, the cover plates being adapted to be slidably received in frames 19, 80, and 8| of housing sections 10, 1|, and 12, respectively.

As indicated in Fig. 6, housing 1| may be provided'with an extension or support 82 (indicated in dot-dash line) so as to facilitate carrying and placing electrode housings 10, 1|, and 12 in any desired position within a bath tub.

As can be seen in Fig. 8, housing sections 10, 1| and 12 may be arranged in arcuate fashion due to the hinge arrangement 13-14 so as to conform the therapeutic device to the shape of a support, such as bath tub, or the human body. As shown in Fig. 8 the outer housing sections 10 and 12 may be provided with pins 83 to removably receive the ends of a guarding means forming band 83 made from rubber or suitable flexible, electrically non-conductive material.

The free ends of band 84 may be provided with means, such as suction cups 85, 85 to removably attach the battery-like device to the bath tub.

Fig. 9 shows housing sections 10, 1| and 12 movably connected together along hinges 13 and 14 and equipped with spaced resilient or elastic bands 90, 9|, forming guarding means and extending externally of and crcsswise to the hingedly connected sections 10, 1|, and 12. Attached to each band and at opposed locations thereof are attaching means, such as suction cups 92, 03 to removably secure the battery-like therapeutic device to the bath tub. In Fig. 9 the therapeutic device is shown on a reduced scale and seen from the rear. It is obvious that not only the front walls or plates but also the rear Walls of housing sections 10, 1|, and 12 may be provided with openings to permit passage of liquid or fluid flow through the interior of the housing and past one or more electrodes accommodated in each housing. Fig. 9 indicates an example of the electrical wire connection between said electrodes equipped with set-in sockets for the plugs of cables connecting said electrodes with the poles of an electric power source (not shown), so as to provide the same or different polarities at said electrodes, if desired.

Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view along line |0|0 of Fig. 6. The housing section 10a is shown in a modified form, the inner walls of which, 95, are provided" with a plurality of grooves 55, 91, 08 for receiving, respectively, a perforated rear wall 09 and a perforated front cover |00.

Between removable rear wall 99 and removable cover |00, which both are slidably disposed in housing 10 there is slidably positioned an electrode |0| preferably made from graphite. Rear wall 99 may have a plurality of perforations or may be solid, whereas cover |00 may have similar perforations or may be replaced by any other suitable cover, such as 00 (Fig. 7) having larger perforations 6|.

According to this invention the therapeutic devices or apparatus shown and described hereinabove may be applied to the human body or may be removably or interchangeably arranged within the bath tub or on a frame work 200 (Fig. 11) or may be disposed at an overhead shower or nozzle, the fluid flow through the housing may be regulated by any suitable faucet so as to provide a continuous or intermittent flow through the housing, or the liquid or steam may remain within the housing for any desired length of time and in contact with the electrode or electrodes housed therein. If a plurality of housings is used, the same may be easily positioned and attached to the Walls of a bath tub and afxed thereto in any desired angular relationship. The eXible holding bands 84 equipped with suction cups 85, 85 provide efficient guarding means against direct contact of the human body with the housing or electrode or electrodes therein, as may be realized from Figs. 8, 9 and 11 of the drawings.

The electrode housing herein referred to is preferably of elongated shape to apply the same lengthwise to the human body, for example, to the legs and feet of a patient.

Fig. 11 shows a frame work 200 (or a bath tub, as seen from above) to which are aiiixed a back electrode structure 20| (similar to that shown in Fig. 6) to which may be swingably and hingedly attached electrode housings 202, 203 for the treatment of the neck of a patient, while the same is reclining in sedentary position on electrode housing or pad 204.

End electrode housings 205, 205 for contact with the feet of the patient are attached to the bath tub frame 200 in any convenient manner, whereas side electrode housings, either hinged to each other, as at 201, 208, 209 or arranged as single units, as at 2|0, 2| 2|2 may be removably secured to said frame work 200 by means of hooks 2|0a, 2| la and 2I2a, respectively. The frame work 200 may be made to carry said electrode units in predetermined arrangement and may then be placed into a conventional bath tub. Electrical connections between said electrode units may be effected in any desired manner, such as, for example, described in my U. S. Letters Patents No. 2,240,504 and 2,290,688.

From the above description it will be apparent that the devices of the above nature possess the particular features and advantages before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously are susceptible of modification in their forms, proportions, detail, construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of their advantages.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel-features of the invention as applied to the above embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions or changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A therapeutic device of the character described comprising a plurality of electrodes, a housing provided with sections each adapted to receive one of said electrodes, each of said sections being provided with passageways to permit flow of liquid therethrough past a respective electrode, means movably connecting said sections to facilitate conforming of said housing to the contour of a Support, means for attaching said sections to said support and for removal therefrom, and electrically insulated guarding means arranged externally of and positioned in spaced relationship from and opposite Said electrodes, said attaching means being connected with said guarding means.

2. A therapeutic device of the character described comprising a` plurality of electrodes, a housing provided with sections each adapted to receive one of said electrodes, vsaid sections including passageways to permit now of liquid through said sections and past a respective electrode when contained in said Section5, means hingedly connecting adjacent sections to each other to facilitate conforming of said housing to the contour of a support, suction cups for attaching said housing to said support and for removal therefrom, and electrically insulated guarding means arranged externally of said housing and spaced :from said electrodes, said suction cups being positioned at the ends of said guarding means.

3. A therapeutic device of the character described comprising atleast one electrode, a hous- 8 ing adapted to receive said electrode and provided with passageways to permit W of liquid through said housing and past said electrode, suction means for attaching said housing to a support and for removal therefrom, and electrically insulated flexible band means forming guarding means against which the body of a patient may abut and arranged externally of said housing and spaced from said electrode, said suction means being disposed at the ends of said band means and laterally of said housing.

FRED LANDAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,347,915 Landauer May 2, 1944 2,344,990 Landauer Mar. 28, 1944 2,240,504 Landauer May 6, 1941 1,217,321 Lowe Feb. 27, 1917 1,487,837 Bueckle Mar. 25, 1924 631,623 Diehl Aug. 22, 1899 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 163,895 Germany Oct. 25, 1905 41,441 Germany Mar. 25, 1910 586,531 Germany Oct. 23, 1933 

